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In December 1970 'Leon Russell and friends' recorded the 'Homewood Sessions' at the Vine Street Theatre in Hollywood, broadcast as an 'unscripted and unrehearsed' one-hour TV special on KCET TV, LA. Claude Russell Bridges, known professionally as Leon Russell, had a birthday on Tuesday. He would have turned 82. We miss you, Leon!

Backing Vocal - Kim Richey; Dobro - Jerry Douglas; Electric Guitar - Will Kimbrough.

On this new collection of duets with female artists, Dion sings ‘with the heart, soul, and authority that's been his calling card since he first found stardom in the mid-'50s.’ The list of ‘talismanic female collaborators’ on the album’s cover ‘reads like a who’s who of female talent in the blues-rock world and beyond.’ Sue Foley has released 16 albums over the course of her career is a two-time Blues Music Award winner.

Third album out of five that Wendy recorded for Warner Bros. in the ‘70’s. Wendy on vocal and acoustic guitar; Peter Bernstein on piano; Kenny Edwards on slide guitar.

This was a hit for Stewart in 1965, and was followed in 1966 by his blockbuster, ‘Summertime”. Stewart had a birthday on March 24. He would have been 87! Tragically, he died in 1970, at the age of 32, in a car accident. What voice that guy had!

Desiree Cannon is a California-based country-folk musician, who sings lonesome songs about love, truth and imagination. This is from her second album, released in February.

Taj’s latest project is an extraordinary set recorded live at the Tulsa studio best known as the home base of the late, great Leon Russell, a huge influence and personal friend of his. The sextet includes Taj’s long-time quartet, bassist Bill Rich, drummer Kester Smith, and guitarist/Hawaiian lap steel player Bobby Ingano, augmented by dobro player Rob Ickes and guitarist and vocalist Trey Hensley.

A folk group from Black Mountain in Western North Carolina.

This is a tribute album in the best sense, evoking the spirit of one of the most influential yet largely forgotten pop warriors of our time, Gram Parsons. This song was first released by The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1969.

Playing the first two tracks of Side 2, back-to-back because there is no clean break between them, and I just couldn’t bear hacking them apart! Laura on vocals and piano; Alice Coltrane on harp; bass by Chuck Rainey; Michael Szittai on cimbalom; Dino Danelli on drums; Cornell Dupree on guitar; oud by Ashod Garabedian; Ralph MacDonald on percussion; woodwind by Joe Farrell.

Track two

This album is the second in a trilogy with celebrated producer Mitchell Froom and renowned musicians David Hidalgo, Bob Glaub and Michael Urbano. “Listening to Jim Keller makes me feel like I have big plans and all my hair” Tom Waits.

Bonnie on lead vocal and acoustic guitar; backing vocal by John David Souther; fretless bass by Freebo; Dennis Whitted on drums; Will McFarlane on electric guitar; mandocello by David Grisman; Bill Payne on piano.

Gram died in 1973, in Joshua Tree, CA, at the age of 26 from an overdose of morphine and alcohol. This, his second solo album, was released posthumously. Acoustic rhythm guitar by Herb Pederson; on bass – Emory Gordy; drums by Ronnie Tutt; electric guitar [lead] by James Burton; pedal steel guitar by Al Perkins; Glen D. Hardin on electric piano.

Great song from a great album! Concertina: Boris Matuesvitch; Accordion: Dominic Cortese; Harmonica: Don Brooks; Banjo, Mandolin: Eric Weissberg.

According to ‘No Depression’, this “swings with a New Orleans-meets-cowboy country flavor, Donald Sorah’s horns adding a tasty dimension to the tune.”

This was the ‘B’ side of ‘Little Things Mean A Lot’, released in 1970. Bettye is from Shreveport, LA.

The album, due out May 17, is a tribute to the trailblazers of rock and roll.

‘Sad Joy’ arose from a conversation with Chip Taylor about a loved one who was maintaining a, "bright, beautiful attitude," while dealing with Lou Gehrig's disease. Carrie says, "Chip and I were talking about how, when we are faced with those kinds of things, as sad and difficult as they are, they can also bring about a type of joy. The simple joy of people loving each other and holding each other up - in times of both celebration and in mourning. We started strumming some chords, and there it was, a song that lays out those raw emotions without being shy about it. Celebrating them, in fact."

Recorded at Sonelab Studios in Easthampton MA, Smither’s 20th release is due out May 3.

Louisa’s getting some help here from fiddler Stuart Duncan, mandolin player Sierra Hull, guitarist Molly Tuttle and banjo player Alison Brown.

Recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954, this is one of Waters' first recordings with a full backing band, "a who's who of bluesmen": Jimmy Rogers on guitar; Little Walter on harp; drummer Elgin Evans; on pianist - Otis Spann; and Willie Dixon on double bass. The stop-time riff was "soon absorbed into the lingua franca of blues, R&B, jazz, and rock and roll". After the song's initial success in 1954, Waters recorded several live and new studio versions. The original appears on the 1958 Chess album ‘The Best of Muddy Waters’. Muddy was born 111 years ago, on April 4, 1913, in Issaquena County, MS. Happy birthday, Muddy!

Says Rosanne of this song, ‘After my dad heard this song, he called me and said, “I just figured out why God is a woman to you. It’s because you have daughters.” I was very moved by that insight. I hadn’t thought of it myself.’

This was Rick Danko's third solo album, and the last released before his death in December 1999. It was credited to the "Rick Danko Band": Rick Danko, Garth Hudson & Aaron Hurwitz.

Joan wrote, arranged, recorded every song and played every instrument except percussion on this album!

Electric guitar, Weissenborn, album producer – Bo Ramsey. He and Greg have worked successfully together for years.